Washington Death Records by County

Washington has 39 counties, each with a local health department or health district that issues certified death certificates for deaths that occurred within that county. Death records from July 1, 1907 to the present are maintained at both the county level and by the Washington State Department of Health. For deaths that occurred within the past two months, contact the local county health office directly. For older records, the state DOH or the Washington State Digital Archives may be your fastest option. Select a county below to find specific contact information, hours, fees, and ordering procedures.

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All 39 Washington Counties

Each county below has its own page with information about the local health district, historical records, genealogy resources, and how to request death records in that area.

Adams Asotin Benton Chelan Clallam Clark Columbia Cowlitz Douglas Ferry Franklin Garfield Grant Grays Harbor Island Jefferson King Kitsap Kittitas Klickitat Lewis Lincoln Mason Okanogan Pacific Pend Oreille Pierce San Juan Skagit Skamania Snohomish Spokane Stevens Thurston Wahkiakum Walla Walla Whatcom Whitman Yakima

How County Death Records Work in Washington

Washington death records are registered at the local level first. When a death occurs, the attending physician or coroner files a death certificate with the county or state electronic system. Local health departments in each county serve as agents for the Washington State Department of Health. They can issue certified copies of death certificates for deaths that occurred in their county, and they hold records locally before they are transferred to the state system.

Not every county has the same setup. Some counties share a health district with a neighboring county. Benton and Franklin counties, for example, are both served by the Benton-Franklin Health District in Kennewick. Chelan and Douglas counties share the Chelan-Douglas Health District in East Wenatchee. Pend Oreille County does not have its own health department and instead relies on the Spokane Regional Health District. These shared arrangements mean you may need to contact an office in a neighboring county to obtain your record.

County auditors hold historical death records from before 1907, when statewide registration began. Those pre-statewide records are available on microfilm at the Washington State Archives regional branch serving each county. For deaths from 1907 forward, the county health department and the state DOH both hold copies. County health offices are often faster for in-person requests. The state DOH in Olympia handles mail and online orders.

Note: Washington became a closed record state on January 1, 2021. You must show proof of relationship or legal interest to obtain a certified death certificate from any county office.